Batting

LA VERNE, CA. – There were plenty of drama at Saturday's doubleheader between the Pomona-Pitzer softball team and the University of La Verne as the two teams split both games. The Leopards took the first game with a close 3-2 victory, but the Sagehens responded with a 7-5 comeback victory in the second game.

Season Impact: The Sagehens improve to a 25-9 record overall and lead the SCIAC with a 16-6 conference record.

La Verne def. Pomona-Pitzer 3-2

The Leopards bested the Sagehens in a tight low-scoring victory, relying on a final inning rally to triumph. Liz Rodarte pitched well, throwing 6.1 innings and surrendering three runs, but only had a loss to show for it.

Angelica DeAngelo opened up the scoring for the Leopards, hitting a solo home run in the second inning to take the early lead.

The Sagehens responded in the top of the fourth, with the bases loaded and one out as Emily Rockhill laced a single to right field for an RBI to tie the game.

The two teams held other scoreless in the fifth and sixth inning, but the Hens felt certain victory was in reach after Olivia Campion hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to take a 2-1 lead.

However, a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh gave La Verne the walk-off victory.

Pomona-Pitzer def. La Verne 7-5

The Sagehens bounced back in a thrilling comeback victory over the Leopards in the second game, thanks to some timely hitting in the middle parts of the game. Rodarte went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, including a home run while Izzy Deatherage also hit a home run to finish the game with a run and three RBIs.

The Leopards jumped to a 4-0 lead, scoring their first run off a fielder's choice in the first inning and later rallying for three more off back-to-back singles.

After being held hitless for the first three innings, the Sagehens' offense came to life in the top of the fourth when Olivia Campion reached first on a throwing error and Rodarte followed with a two-run bomb. Later in the same inning, with two outs and a runner on second, Julia Maya laced an opposite field RBI double to cut the deficit 4-3.

The Sagehens refused to pump the breaks, rallying again in the top of the fifth. A fielding error by the Leopards' left fielder put Michelle Calcany Blair to third base to lead off the inning. Later with runners on the corners and one out, Rodarte lined a single to right field to tie the game. Deatherage followed with a three-run blast to put the Sagehens ahead 7-4.

The Leopards responded with one run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Sagehens silenced them for the remainder of the game to hold on for the victory.

Up Next: The Hens will travel to Whittier College on Friday, April 20 for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.